The Tribune

By SIMON

THIS general election year, the launch of official campaigning and the eve of Lent coincided. The Free National Movement (FNM) launched its Grand Bahama candidates in an energy-filled event that exceeded the expectations of the party, boosting the opposition. Many observers are impressed by the party’s new national slate.

This past Monday the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) launched its campaign with a jampacked and vibrant event at Baha Mar, with excited PLPs boasting that they are on track for two straight victories, ending decades of no party being returned to office after a single term.

Many in the PLP are giddily confident of victory. Many FNMs are increasingly confident that they can retake the government. Both parties are expressing confidence.

Who will know the joy or sorrow that cometh in the morning after election day is in the hands of the Bahamian people, who are often full of surprises and upsets, in both senses of the word.

Prior to the Lenten season, some expressed concern about campaigning during the 40-day observance. Prime Minister Philip Davis unilaterally announced, “We will not have any political public activities during Lent.”

Did Mr. Davis, an Anglican, make this announcement out of religious conviction, political expediency, or gamesmanship intended to disadvantage other political parties, even as the PLP launched its campaign just two days before Ash Wednesday?

It is possible that Mr. Davis is playing a game in announcing that his party will not hold public events, attempting to lure the FNM into a trap, after which he might spring the announcement of an election right after Easter, depriving others of a 40-day period without public events.

Neither the FNM, any other party, or the public, should fall for such a potential trap cum prohibition against public events during Lent.

Whatever his reasoning--or possible combination of reasons--there has been debate as to whether there should be public campaign events during Lent. As is often the case, much of the discussion is woefully uninformed by history, and lacking a considered theological, philosophical, and rational basis. Moreover, there is a fundamentalist mindset that has entered the discussion.

This journal reported some of the discussion. “Some church leaders had criticised the timing,” the article stated. “Father Roderick Bain of St Barnabas Anglican Church questioned the message it sends so close to the holy season.”

The message it sends is that we can be both Christian and democratic at the same time, able to engage in both public religious and political activity.

Why can’t a good Christian worship God on a given day and express her political views and support at a public event in the same week during Lent, albeit with certain restraint and respect for the holy season?

“If we’re a Christian nation,” the pastor stated, “we should not really be focusing on political things just yet, especially during Lent.”

Rev. Bain’s comments beg the question: What does he mean by “Christian nation?”

The majority of Bahamians are Christian, mostly of a narrow fundamentmentalist nature, which sociologically dominates our culture, including politics and public policy. Sometimes for good, but too often, for not so good. Still, we are a secular, pluralist democracy with a separation of church and state.

We are not a theocracy.

While respecting the religious community, the work of politics, government, civil society, as well as public debate, cannot be sidelined by a few who may desire certain prohibitions.

Why can’t we focus on political things during Lent? Politics is not inherently bad or wrong. Politics and government are vital to the life of a nation, including during Lent. Should parliament and public speeches by government ministers, all of which are political in nature, also be shut down at this time?

Those who don’t want to attend or watch certain events are free not to do so. Likewise, those who want to participate freely and openly in such events should also feel free to do so.

The Tribune report continued. “Others struck a more measured tone [on holding public political events during Lent]. Methodist Church president Rev James Neilly said the issue depended on conduct during the season.

‘I don’t have a whole lot of problems with it, you know, for them to launch their campaign. I guess it’s all about how they conduct themselves during the season of Lent and what all they operate, you know.’ ”

Rev. Neilly offered a balanced and reasoned approach, like other religious leaders at home and abroad who don’t propose bans or prohibitions on public events during this penitential season.

Some history. Other countries, including the United Kingdom, a mostly secular country with a longstanding Church of England tradition, have held general elections during Lent.

In 1968, Prime Minister Lynden Pindling held that year’s election on April 10, which was in Holy Week, four days before Easter Sunday. Today, out of respect for Holy Week, no political party is likely to do the same.

In 1997, Prime Minister Hubert Ingtaham called an election that occurred in Lent and included a variety of public events.

In 1997, neither the Roman Catholic nor Anglican heads publicly stated any desire for a prohibition against public political events during Lent. Moreover, neither tradition has theological or scriptural prohibitions against such events, although political parties should be judicious in conducting such events.

The religious communities that more deeply observe the penitential season of Lent are Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, and the Greek Orthodox community, who often observe Lent and celebrate Easter on different dates.

The other Protestant denominations--including the Baptist and non-denominational churches--do not have the deep Lenten traditions of the aforementioned Christian communities.

It bears repeating, The Bahamas is constitutionally a secular state. The preamble to the constitution has a Christian reference. But the preamble has no legal force, and is not dispositive in deciding constitutional questions.

Chapter I Article 1 of the constitution, however, does have legal force. It states: “The Commonwealth of the Bahamas shall be a sovereign democratic State.”

Not a theocracy, not a Christian state, but a democracy.

Ours is a secular state with a constitution dedicated to protecting certain fundamental rights and freedoms, not a theocratic state where the doctrines of any religion or denomination reign supreme in adjudicating constitutional or other primary matters of politics and governance.

The constitution does not protect or advance any notion of Christendom, in which Christianity is the state religion, nor does it grant any religion the right to force its doctrines, will, or religious prohibitions on other citizens.

As a secular state, we enjoy freedom of conscience. We enjoy freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly, pivotal freedoms in the advancement and sustenance of our democracy.

How wonderful it is that we can openly and vigorously debate how to campaign during Lent, receive ashes on Ash Wednesday, campaign and go to a public political event during the Lenten and election seasons, and seek to hold free elections in a democratic Bahamas, formed by various Christian and other traditions.

Let us pray for peaceful elections. And, for those who are Christians, may this time of penance, fasting, and prayer, be a time of spiritual growth that prepares them for Easter and the celebration of abundant new life.